is in honolulu. i'm not going to tease you about hawaii being a junket, because i know it's hard work and you're doing something. >> thank you. >> absolutely. i'm a little jealous of the water and backdrop and sand. never mind. i won't hate here. tell us, are there any conversations that are going on between the president, the republicans, the democrats, anybody to aavoid the fiscal cliff? >> reporter: well, this is what may be alarming to learn, suzanne. obviously, the white house is always in concert with senate democrats. there's always an open line of communication there, but there are really no substantive discussions going on with the white house and senate democrats with republicans both in the house and the senate. that may seem troubling at this point, because obviously eyes are turning towards the senate as it is going to reconvene on thursd thursday. if this fiscal cliff is to be averted, it has to get through both the senate and house with some republican support. so you're hearing pessimism now on both sides. take a listen to a democratic and a republican senator and how they see